Travel

ELLE World: The Indian organ trail

Travel

ELLE World: The Indian organ trail

After five years of research, production and soul-searching, I finally completed my documentary film,
The Market. The subject matter-the underground trade in human kidneys in India-is as sensitive as it is complicated. My goal was to find two women-a seller and a potential buyer-who would be willing to share their stories about their struggle for survival. I eventually found them and set out to capture on film how their decisions would affect each other. What I didn't expect was how it would change me.

As a documentarian, you focus on the story, the people and the conflict. Regardless of whether you're a man or a woman, you're an observer. That said, I feel that women view the world through a different lens based on their own unique experiences-motherhood being one of them. My film is about mothers who are forced to make difficult moral and physical decisions due to social circumstances or health. As a mother, I found myself questioning just how far I would go to help my children and what price I would be prepared to pay.

But first things first: Twelve years ago, when I was still living in India, I had three maids, all of whom had telltale gashes across their abdomens. When they casually told me that they had sold their kidneys, I didn't think much of it. Back then, I didn't see it as a symptom of a larger evil, but now I can't believe that we live in a world where buying a body part from someone who is less fortunate is acceptable.

When I think of these women who cared for me-and the fact that I didn't help them-I feel guilty. When people ask me what motivated me to make this film, the answer is simple: I did it for them.

Find out more about the growing organ trade on the next page...

I want to
raise awareness about the growing organ trade between wealthy Western patients and slum-dwelling citizens in countries like India, the Philippines and Eastern Europe. The kidney trade is brisk because we only need one of them to survive, which means that the second one could be a lucrative commodity-especially for someone who is disadvantaged. In fact, brokers tell the slum residents that even the poorest person has "a couple of
gemstones on each hip." One of those "gems" is worth between $40,000 and $60,000, but by the time the doctors, hospital workers and brokers take their share, the donor only receives $2,000.

The women I interviewed in the slums told me that some men will marry more than one woman so that they have access to the income from two kidneys. Women are also pressured into selling their kidneys to prove that they are good wives. "Let our husbands remain strong," they told me. "They are men; we, as women, should do this for our families."

It's illegal to broker these deals in India, but it's not illegal to "donate" an organ. The woman who is selling her kidney must tell the government's ethical committee that her motivations are altruistic. The exchange of money is then quietly arranged behind the scenes. Her real motivation, though, is to secure money to feed and educate her kids or to help pay down her family's burdensome debt.

Sensational accounts of people being kidnapped for their body parts receive press from time to time, but, as horrific as they are, I didn't want my film to focus on those stories. For me, it's just as horrifying to know that body parts like kidneys are becoming an accepted form of collateral.

I also didn't take a traditional investigative-journalism approach because I formed relationships with the characters in my film-from the doctor who performs the surgeries to the broker, Prabha, and the seller, Hema. I speak Tamil, so I was able to meet with them in their huts in the slums of Villivakkam Chennai, which is now known as "Kidney Village."

Find out how a broker helps to find the right match for a donor on the next page...

I came to understand their struggles, as well as their dreams. Prabha sold her kidney three years ago to pay off the
family debt. Shortly after, she became a broker. While she usually doesn't feel conflicted about negotiating a trade (she typically receives $500 per transaction), it is different now that her sister is a client. "Every needle that goes into her body is a needle that goes into mine," says Prabha. "It hurts me so much; it's like they're pulling out my kidney all over again. But she needs the money, so how can I refuse to help her?" Hema's husband isn't pressuring her; in fact, he's against it. "I never went to school," explains Hema. "I want my children to get an education so that they can have a better life-that's why I'm selling my kidney."

But who's going to buy it? It would have been easy to find a wealthy white character and portray her as the rapacious first-world buyer versus the victimized third-world seller. But instead, I found Sandra, a fortysomething single mom who lives in Nanaimo, B.C., with her daughter, Kylie, and her mother, Christina. Sandra, who has been living with end-stage renal failure since November 2005, is on an active transplant list, but the wait time could be another five years. There are more than 3,500 Canadians waiting for a kidney donation, yet Canada has one of the lowest donation rates in the world (13 donors per million people compared to 20 per million in the United States).

Both Sandra's daughter and her mother-who has a blog, A Kidney for my Daughter (kidneytransplantforkyliesmom.blogspot.com)-encouraged Sandra to go to India to get a kidney. As her mother said in the film, "I just want Sandra to have a normal life again, feel better about herself, maybe have a boyfriend..." For Sandra, though, the offer of a new chance at life came at a price she wasn't sure she could live with. "I don't know, Kylie, you just don't go buying organ parts from people," Sandra told her daughter in the film. "There are lots of issues to think about. What if the woman selling her organ is being pressured?"

Find out how a mother's love takes Sandra to India on the next page...

Despite her reservations, Sandra and her family agreed to travel with me to India last summer to meet Prabha and Hema. I didn't know what the outcome would be, and I told Sandra that I only wanted to film her experience, regardless of her decision. When people watch the film, their reaction to the characters is mixed. Most of them hate Prabha, while others feel that she is being pragmatic, given the challenges she faces. Some can't understand why Sandra struggles with her decision on whether to buy a kidney, given that it will change her life. "Why wouldn't she do that for her daughter, just as Hema is willing to sacrifice her kidney for her children?" they ask. There's no simple answer. I came into this wondering how far I'd go as a mother (would I sell a kidney? would I buy one?), and now I think that it's impossible to know unless you're in that situation. The only thing of which I'm certain is that I have signed my donor card; I hope my documentary inspires others to do the same because that's the only way to close down the market.

Shopping

Tell us who you're trying to find a gift for!

The holiday gifting struggle is real. Start by taking a look at our holiday gift guide. Still aren't quite sure what to get someone? Tell us who you can't figure out a gift for (and be as specific as possible: BF of 6 months or 6 years? Sister who spends all day watching makeup tutorials? Workplace Secret Santa? etc.) using the hashtag #TellELLECanada and tagging @ELLECanada on Instagram and/or Twitter. Then, tune in to our livestream on the ELLE Canada Facebook page December 9 at 1:30pm to see what we've picked!

We will randomly select one entry to win a beauty advent calendar from The Body Shop ($99 value).

ELLE Canada Model Search 2017

Contests

ELLE Canada Model Search 2017

Have you ever wanted to see yourself in ELLE Canada? Enter our ELLE Canada Model Search presented by Smashbox Cosmetics for your chance to be in the spotlight in an editorial feature PLUS be flown out to L.A. for a photo shoot at Smashbox Studios!

ENTER ON INSTAGRAM BY JANUARY 8, 2017

HOW TO ENTER:

1. TAG your Instagram images or videos with #ECMODELSEARCH17

2. FOLLOW @ELLECanada and @SmashboxCanada on Instagram

PRIZE:

Three (3) finalists will appear in an editorial feature in ELLE Canada.

One (1) winner will receive a round-trip flight to Los Angeles, two nights' accommodation and a styled photo shoot at Smashbox Studios.

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ELLE Canada Model Search 2017 Rules

The ELLE Canada Model Search is held by Les Publications Groupe TVA- Hearst Inc. (ELLE Canada) and Smashbox, collectively hereinafter named: the “Model Search Organizers”. ELLE Canada is the Sponsor of the Model Search. The Model Search runs on Instagram, from December 1st, 2016 –at 6h00 to January 8th, 2017 at 23h59 ET (hereinafter: the “Search Period”).

ELIGIBILITY

This Model Search is open to all persons residing in Canada of at least the age of majority in their province of residence. Participant can’t be under any modelling contract when entering the Model Search. The following persons are excluded: employees, agents and representatives of Québecor Média inc., of Model Search Organizers’, of their parent and affiliated companies, their advertising and promotional agencies, partners, suppliers of prizes, materials and services related to this Model Search, or any other party directly linked to the holding of this Model Search, or their brother, sister, children, mother, father, their legal or common-law spouse and individuals with whom such employees, agents and representatives are domiciled.

HOW TO ENTER

Registration:

No purchase necessary. To participate in the Model Search, you simply have to have an Instagram account and enter the Model Search by posting during the Search Period your own photo and tag your images with #ECModelSearch17, @ellecanada, @smashboxcanada and include your age, height and hometown. If representatives from the Model Search Organizer are interested or need more information on you or your application, you will receive a "direct message" via Instagram from @ellecanada or @smashboxcanada. The fact that you have received or not a ‘’direct message’’ does not affect positively or negatively your ability to become the winner of the ELLE Canada Model Search.

Photos must consist of:

-Full body and Face

-15 second video is also acceptable (with full body and face)

You must respect the following limits, otherwise the Model Search Organizers reserve the right to cancel your participation:

You can submit as many photos/videos as you wish during the Search Period provided each are submitted in accordance with the ELLE Canada Model Search Rules;

You cannot submit photos/videos from more than one Instagram accounts, in the case you have more than one;

The Instagram account that you are using to submit your photos/videos must be public.

Additional requirements:

You are responsible for uploading/transmitting your picture/video for successful consideration during the Model Search Period in accordance with the ELLE Canada Model Search Rules. You must only submit picture/video that: i) are created, produced and developed by you; ii) are original work; iii) have not been previously published or be the subject of an agreement with a third party; iv) have not been considered for or won previous or similar search, recruitments, awards; v) does not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, rights of privacy, rights of publicity or other intellectual property or other rights of any person or entity; vi) have been created in a legal and safe manner by you; v) that are a representation of you (additional proof of identity may be requested by Model Search Organizers at their sole discretion if they deemed it necessary); vi) that have not been altered, modified or photo-shopped in any way.

You picture/video must not:

contain defamatory words/statements (including words or symbols that are widely considered offensive to individuals of a certain race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic group);

threaten any person, place, business, or group;

disparage persons or organizations associated with the Model Search Organizers;

invade privacy or other rights of any person, firm, or entity;

contain material that is in any way unlawful, in violation of or contrary to all applicable federal, provincial or municipal laws and regulations in Canada;

contain material that is inappropriate, indecent (including but not limited to nudity or pornography), profane, obscene, hateful, tortuous, slanderous or libelous;

refer to any person other then you or refer to any organization; and

be advertorial, promotional or relate to specific brand.

By participating in this Model Search and by submitting your photo/video, you hereby grant an non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, fully paid-up, royalty-free, fully sublicenseable and transferable right and license to the Model Search Organizers (and to third party duly authorized by the Model Search Organizers) to use the photo/video at their entire discretion, including without limitation (notably with respect of support, media, duration, language and territory) the right to edit or modify such photo/video for commercial or promotional purposes without any compensation whatsoever owed to you. You also waive all moral rights you may hold in or to your photo/video to the extent required for the license granted hereunder. Furthermore, by participating in this Model Search and by submitting your photo/video, you hereby authorize Model Search Organizers to use, at their entire discretion including without limitation (notably with respect of support, media, duration, language and territory), the content, in whole or in part, of any ‘’Direct Message’’ you are exchanging with the Model Search Organizers along with your age, height and hometown.

PRIZE

At the end of the Model Search, one (1) winner will be selected based on judging criteria to determine the top 15 finalists and a community vote to select the top 3 finalists. The winner be selected based on judging criteria and will benefit from the following prize, provided such winner is complying to the ELLE Canada Model Search Rules:

Round-trip flight to L.A. (economy)

2-night hotel stay

Photo Shoot at Smashbox Studios

Hair and make-up on set

(Value estimated at $10,000)

The following conditions apply:

The prize is not exchangeable and non-transferable;

The prize has to be accepted as it is;

If the prize or a portion of it is not used, no compensation will be given.

Dates are subject to changes.

WINNER SELECTION:

On January 9, 2016 at the offices of ELLE Canada, located in Toronto, Ontario, a maximum of fifteen (15) submissions will be selected by representatives from the ELLE Canada team. Any representative can be replaced by other professional exercising similar functions or any other person deemed suitable at Model Search Organizers’ sole discretion. Submissions will be selected from all pictures/videos received during the Model Search Period provided they were submitted in accordance with the ELLE Canada Model Search Rules. When assessing the pictures/videos, the representatives will take into consideration various criteria from industry experts. Decisions of ELLE Canada, and Smashbox representatives are finals and binding.

On January 12, 2016, the selected maximum of fifteen (15) submissions will be placed on the website of www.ellecanada.com/ecmodelsearch and will be featured until January 19th, 2016 to determine the top 3 submissions, after engaging the public to cast their votes on the ELLE Canada website. The public may vote once a day for the duration of the Model Search. The selected maximum of fifteen (15) participants each agree not to cast fraudulent vote nor to encourage the public to do so.

On January 23, 2016 at the offices of ELLE Canada, Toronto, Ontario, the top three (3) submissions (such submissions being the one to have received the most votes between January 12th, 2016 and January 19th, 2016), will be posted on ELLECanada.com/ecmodelsearch for the public to see.

FINALISTS MUST BE ABLE TO TRAVEL JANUARY 25th – MAY 31st 2016.

Late January, 2016, the selected three (3) finalists will be contacted by an ELLE Canada representative to participate in a photo shoot in Toronto (exact date to be confirmed). Finalists agree not to substantially modify on purpose their personal appearance from the date they are contacted by the ELLE Canada representative until the date of the photoshoot. If a selected finalist chooses not to participate to such photo shoot (for any reason, including prior commitments), such finalist will not be considered for the rest of the Model Search. At the photoshoot, representatives of the Model Search Organizers will evaluate each model on various criteria such as ability to be creative in front of the camera, posture, radiant smile, creativity when engaging in pictures, natural ease when pictures are taken, ability to adapt to directions and instructions from photographer, general attitude and personality.

The winner of the Model Search will be the finalist who has the best evaluation from the Model Search Organizers representatives at the photoshoot. The winner will be announced on ELLE Canada’s Instagram page during the first week of March.

Each finalist agrees to the publication, reproduction and other use of pictures/video and all picture/video taken at the photoshoot and during the Model Search Period by the Model Search representatives as well at their name, address, voice, statements about the Model Search and photograph or other likeness without further notice or additional compensation, in any publicity, advertisement or other promotional or commercial use carried out by or on behalf of the Model Search Organizers in any media, current or existing, including print, broadcast or the internet.

In order to be declared the winner, you must abide to all conditions related to the Model Search. Finalists are not official until they are contacted by an ELLE Canada representative. All finalists need to read and accept rules plus sign a release form to be considered in the Model Search and eventually to be declared winner.

Failing to comply with one of the conditions stated in the section above or any of the conditions provided in these ELLE Canada Model Search Rules, the entry of the finalist will be cancelled without any liability to the Model Search Organizers whatsoever, and the second runner up from the photoshoot will be elected winner (provided such winner complies with these ELLE Canada Model Search Rules).

GENERAL CONDITIONS

Verification. Pictures/videos are subject to verification by the Model Search Organizers, and participants agree to cooperate fully with Model Search Organizers in such respect. Any pictures/videos which is, as the case may be, incomplete, fraudulent, sent late, that does not bear the correct information will be rejected and will not be considered in the Model Search and Model Search Organizers shall have no liability in such respect, or in respect of lost, misdirected of garbled communication, printing, prizing or distributor errors.

Non-conforming entries. The Model Search Organizers reserve the right to disqualify any person participating in this Model Search or trying to participate by means contrary to these Rules or in a manner that is unfair to the other participants (e.g.: computer hacking, fake pictures/video etc.). Such person may be referred to the appropriate judicial authorities. Furthermore, Model Search Organizers, at their sole discretion, may subtract general votes from the public that are casted in a manner which is unfair to the other entrants.

Acceptance. Any prize must be accepted as described in the present Rules and as described in further descriptions provided by Model Search Organizers and cannot be transferred to another person, substituted for another prize nor exchanged in part. Prize is accepted “as is” without any warranty whatsoever.

Substitution. In the event where, for reasons not related to the finalists, the Model Search Organizers cannot award a prize (or part of a prize) as described in these Rules, they reserve the right to award a prize (or part of a prize) of the same or equivalent nature at their sole discretion.

Refusal to accept a prize. The refusal of a participant to accept a prize according to the terms and conditions of these Rules releases the Model Search Organizers of any obligation related to that prize towards that participant.

Liability – prize’s supplier. A participant who is selected for a prize recognizes that upon reception of the confirmation of his status as the winner of the prize, the execution of the services in respect to the prize is the sole responsibility of the supplier of the prize, in this case, Smashbox.

Liability limit – use of prize. Any participant releases Québecor Média inc., the Model Search Organizers and their parent and affiliated companies, their advertising and promotional agencies, their employees, agents and representatives from any and all liability for any and all damages that such participant may suffer from the acceptance or use of the prize. In order to be declared a winner, any finalist agrees, if required, prior to obtaining the prize, to sign a declaration form to such effect.Erreur ! Signet non défini.

Liability limit – running of the Model Search. Québecor Média inc., the Model Search Organizers and their parent and affiliated companies, their advertising and promotional agencies, their employees, agents and representatives are not liable for faulty computer components, software, or communication lines, relating to any transmission that is faulty, incomplete, incomprehensible or erased by any computer or network that could limit the possibility or prevent any person from participating in this Model Search and/or cast their votes. Québecor Média inc., the Model Search Organizers and their parent and affiliated companies, their advertising and promotional agencies, their employees, agents and representatives also will not be held liable for any damages or loss that could arise, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from downloading any Internet page, any software or any form and by the transmission of any data regarding the participation in this Model Search and the casting of the votes.

Modification. The Model Search Organizers reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend this Model Search and the Rules, in whole or in part, in the case of the occurrence of an event, an error or any human intervention that could corrupt or affect the administration, safety, impartiality or the running of the Model Search as foreseen in these Rules. In any case, the Model Search Organizers, their parent and affiliated companies, their advertising and promotional agencies, the suppliers of products or services related to this Model Search as well as their employees, agents and representatives cannot be held liable to award more prizes than those indicated in these Rules or to award prizes otherwise than in compliance with these Rules.

Impossibility to act – including labour dispute Québecor Média inc., the Model Search Organizers and their parent and affiliated companies, their advertising and promotional agencies, their employees, agents and representatives will not assume any liability whatsoever in any case where their incapacity to act would result from a fact or a situation beyond their control or a strike, lock-out or any other labour dispute in their establishment or in establishments of organizations or enterprises which services are used for holding this Model Search.

Liability limit– participation. Any person who participates or tries to participate in this Model Search releases the Model Search Organizers, their parent and affiliated companies, their advertising and/or promotional agencies, their employees, agents and representatives, from any and all liability for damages which such participant could suffer from participating or trying to participate in this Model Search.

Authorization. By entering this Model Search, any winner authorizes the Model Search Organizers, their partners and their representatives to use, if required, such participant’s name, photograph, likeness, declaration related to the prize, place of residence and/or voice without remuneration whatsoever and that, at their discretion and without limit as for the period of use, in any media and on a worldwide scale, for publicity purposes or for any purpose that will or may be pertinent.

Communication with entrants. No communication or correspondence will be exchanged with entrants in the context of this Model Search except as stated in the Rules.

Decisions of the Model Search Organizers. To the fullest extent allowed under the applicable laws, all decisions of the Model Search Organizers or those of their representatives regarding this Model Search are final and binding.

Identification of the participant. For the purposes of these Rules, the participant is the person who appears on the picture/video submitted and it is to this person to whom the prize will be awarded if selected and declared the winner.

Precedence. If an article in these Rules were to be declared or deemed illegal, unenforceable or invalid by a competent authority, then this article would be considered null and non-written, but all other items would not be affected and would find application in limits and authorized by the applicable law.

Rules Model Search. This is the official regulations and rules for the Elle Canada Model Search (the “Rules”) and these Rules are available on ELLE Canada Website and upon demand.

Non affiliation. This Model Search is not affiliated, sponsored, endorsed or administered by Instagram, nor is Instagram ,nor is Instagram associated with the Model Search in any way. By entering, you acknowledge that Instagram bears no responsibility for this promotion and you release Instagram from any liability whatsoever in connection with this promotion. You understand that you are providing information to the Sponsor and not to Instagram. Any questions, comments or complaints regarding the Model Search must be directed to the Sponsor, and not to Instagram. Instagram is a registered trademark of Instagram, Inc.

Personal information. The personal information collected on the participants of this Model Search are used only for the administration of the Model Search. No commercial communication or other, not linked to the Model Search, will be sent to the participants by the Model Search Organizers except if the participants have authorized the Model Search Organizers to send such communication or as allowed in the present Rules.

WATCH: Estee Lalonde plays Fishbowl Frenzy

Books

WATCH: Estee Lalonde plays Fishbowl Frenzy

A few weeks back we had Youtube sensation Estee Lalonde into the ELLE Canada Closet to play a little game of Fishbowl Frenzy! Don't forget to pick up our January 2017 issue to see an exclusive portrait of the Internet star...and now IRL author of a new memoir / life advice book, Bloom.

8 fashion brands every minimalist will love

Shopping

8 fashion brands every minimalist will love

Although Alessandro Michele makes a compelling case for more-is-more, some of us will always be drawn to restrained, clean designs. These labels are proving that minimal style doesn't have to boring or unimaginative.

For those of you who prefer your bikini free of palm fronds and hibiscus blooms, there's Aussie brand Matteau Swim, known for basic maillots and high-waisted swim bottoms in a palette of black, grey and white.

Launched this year by Catherine Holstein, Khaite is a balance of the masculine and feminine. Fans of the capsule wardrobe concept will find that pieces in the line, from structured shirt dresses to fitted denim, compliment one another perfectly.

Alnea Farahbella's label Toit Volant is made in the USA with a commitment to sustainable sourcing and manufacturing practices. The pre-spring 2017 collection is full of reworked takes on shirting, like this striped jumpsuit with a high collar.

This Montreal-based label keeps production local (the clothes are sewn in Montreal and some of the fabrics are printed in North America) and its ethos is similar to most of the other brands in this list: to let the individual add personality to the clothes.

Another L.A. brand with a dedication to North American manufacturing and sustainability, 5-year-old Shaina Mote is known for architectural, un-adorned basics and fluid silhouettes. If you could live your life without ever donning a polka dot or cheery stripe, the neutral colours in this line are made for you.

Founded by Tokyo-to-L.A. transplants Alexander Yamaguchi and Momoko Suzuki, brand Black Crane is an edgier, more street-wise take on minimalism – think cocoon dresses and wrap trousers with subtle origami and kimono inspiration.